Poll: Two-thirds of Americans are ready for the Keystone pipeline

posted at 4:41 pm on April 2, 2013 by Erika Johnsen

Question: In one of his “charm offensive” meetings with Republicans on the Hill a few weeks ago, the president reportedly dismissed the value of the Keystone XL pipeline as a job creator, claiming that most of the jobs wouldn’t be permanent and that the Canadians would be the only ones to really benefit from the project. But, once again, President Obama is pushing Congress to approve of more spending, theoretically to encourage private investment for construction and infrastructure projects, as an economic stimulant. Are we therefore meant to conclude that only the federal government is capable of fostering auspicious infrastructure projects and selecting the proper sort of “shovel ready” jobs, or could it be that the president is talking out of both sides of his mouth?

The green lobby and friends have been trying to make an especial, symbolic, and ultimately futile cause out of the pipeline’s construction, but even after all of the inexcusable delays, interminable impact reviews, and the increasing politicization, Americans are hardly dissuaded. Shock poll from the Pew Research Center: The only people still railing against the Keystone XL pipeline are the eco-radicals and the politicians who love them.

Two-thirds of Americans (66%) favor building the pipeline, which would transport oil from Canada’s oil sands region through the Midwest to refineries in Texas. Just 23% oppose construction of the pipeline. …

Substantial majorities of Republicans (82%) and independents (70%) favor building the Keystone XL pipeline, as do 54% of Democrats. …

The survey also finds that 69% say there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades. That is little changed from last October (67%), but up 12 points since October 2009.

At the same time, however, the percentage of Americans who say that global warming is a very serious problem has slipped six points, from 39% to 33%, since last October.

If President Obama really wants to create jobs via infrastructure projects, he’s got one ready and waiting that needs only his mere approval to get started — and Americans are a-okay with it.

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